What primarily causes joint ligament sprains is the effect of external forces.
I recently sprained the ligaments in my joint while exercising. Now the joint is painful and swollen, and its range of motion is limited. What kind of external force typically causes a joint ligament sprain? Is it due to a sudden pull or excessive twisting?
Doctor's answer (1)
Joint ligament sprains are a common type of sports injury, primarily caused by external forces. Based on the nature and direction of the external force, they can be classified into the following categories:
1. Direct external force: When a joint experiences a direct impact, such as landing on the hand during a fall or direct collision in sports like soccer, it may lead to ligament sprains. In such cases, the ligaments may tear or rupture due to excessive tension.
2. Indirect external force: This typically acts through excessive twisting or stretching of the joint. For example, excessive valgus or varus motion of the knee joint during skiing may cause sprains of the medial or lateral collateral ligaments.
3. Repetitive microtrauma: Long-term engagement in activities requiring repeated use of specific joints, such as basketball, tennis, or prolonged maintenance of the same posture at work, for example, office workers using computers for extended periods, can lead to chronic injuries of the joint ligaments. In such cases, the ligaments may gradually lose elasticity due to repeated minor stretching, eventually leading to sprains.
4. Fatigue-related injury: After high-intensity or prolonged exercise, when muscle strength decreases and the muscles can no longer effectively protect the joints, joint ligaments become more susceptible to injury. For example, long-distance runners may experience increased risk of ligament injury in the later stages of training due to muscle fatigue compromising gait control.
